Gobelet en vermeil par Hans Lencker, Nuremberg, vers 1556-1558

reposant sur un piédouche ciselé de trois papillons stylisés et repoussé de trois têtes d'homme sur fond amati, le bord de la coupe ciselé d'une frise de rinceaux sur fond amati

etched with mauresques, foot cast with male and female busts interrupted by insect-like ornament and strapwork on matting

Karin Tebbe et al. Nürnberger Goldschmiedekunst 1541-1868, Nuremberg, 2007, no. 517/01
Fabian Stein, Deutsches Silber in einer Londoner Privatsammlung..., Welkunst, 1985 no. 55, pp 3843-3846, illus. 13

Associated literature:
Exhibition catalogue, Prints and the Pursuit of Knowledge in Early Modern Europe, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Illinois, January-August 2012

overall light pitting, nicks, small dents and losses to gilding, foot intruding into body only very very slightly; generally very nice, mauresques good and cast ornament very good quality, marks legible on body, assay scrape under the foot
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Hans Lencker ( 1522-1585), est considéré comme l'un des orfèvres les plus importants à Nuremberg au XVIème siècle. Il a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec Wenzel Jamnitzer (1507- 1585). Les portraits des deux orfèvres ont été peints par le même artiste (Nicolas Neufchâtel); ils habitaient dans la même rue (Ziselgasse), et furent tous deux introduits auprès de l'empereur Maximilien II en 1570 comme étant les principaux membres de la corporation des orfèvres. Lencker maîtrisait également la connaissance de la perspective et l'enseignait même à l'Electeur Christian de Saxe. Il publia un ensemble de dessins de géométrie extraordinaire sous le titre Perspectiva literaria en 1567, un an avant que Jamnitzer ne publie Perspectiva Corporum Regularum, ouvrage qui pourrait avoir influencé l'astronome Johannes Keppler.

Hans Lencker ( 1522-1585), is considered to be one of the foremost Nuremberg goldsmiths of the 16^th century. He was closely associated with Wenzel Jamnitzer (1507- 1585). They had their portraits painted by the same artist (Nicolas Neufchâtel), lived in the same street (Ziselgasse), and were  presented together to Emperor Maximilian II in 1570 as the leading members of the goldsmiths trade. Lencker was also adept in the science of perspective becoming tutor in that subject to the future Elector Christian of Saxony and publishing the influential group of extraordinary drawings of geometric shapes under the title Perspectiva  literaria in 1567, a year before Jamnitzer’s own Perspectiva Corporum Regularum which may have influenced the astronomer Johannes Keppler  and his 1596 model of the planetary orbits.